Artists

Artists

Hortense Ellis

BORN : 1945

DIED : October 19, 2000,

Hortense Ellis, like many of the musicians of the time, was a of product of the Trench Town community. She was born in western Kingston in 1945 and educated at Ebeneezer and Trench Town Schools. Her career began with performances at the Vere Johns Opportunity Talent Hour Show. Between 1962 and 1964 she had two major accomplishments, capturing the Gleaner Company Shield for outstanding performance at the National Stadium and a silver trophy after performing at the 1964 Miss Jamaica Coronation Ball.

Ellis, who was regarded as Jamaica’s first locally-based female singing star, was voted Singer of the Year in 1964. She made appearances on the Dionne Warwick, Patti La-Belle and the Blue Bells shows. Among the hits Ellis recorded are Superstar, Unexpected Places, Woman of the Ghetto, Down the Aisle and Something You Got. She also did duets with her brother, Alton Ellis and collaborated with artistes such as Derrick Morgan and Jackie Edwards.

She died on Thursday, October 19, 2000, after being hospitalized for a short while.Hortense was the younger sister of Alton Ellis